Members of the Army National Guard unit stand at ease facing well-wishers and relatives at Reid Park. Those attending the departure ceremony on Friday included 4-year-old Robert Joseph Camacho, who had his own support system — the shoulders of Robert Camacho. The soldiers were expected to head out early today for training in Texas.

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On the last night she would see her little boy before leaving for a year in Afghanistan, Pfc. Tayzha Taylor dressed him up in his Halloween costume one night early.

He toddled around the house dressed as a tiger, then, as a special treat, got to sleep in bed with his Mama.

"I know you're not supposed to, but I just want to cuddle with him one last time," said Taylor, 22, of her son, Eric O'Neal Jr., age 15 months.

"I think he'll do fine while I'm away," the Army cook said, dabbing at her eyes with a tissue.

"I'm not sure how I'll do."

Taylor, a 2005 graduate of Cienega High School in Vail, was one of about 80 citizen soldiers with a Tucson Army National Guard unit who assembled for a send-off ceremony at Reid Park on Friday.

An Army band played patriotic tunes in the midafternoon sunshine. Children clutched fuzzy teddy bears given out by military support groups.

Flags fluttered, and tears flowed.

"I never thought I would see this day, where I would be watching my child go to war," said a misty-eyed Margaret Sanchez, 47.

Her daughter, Lisa Sanchez, 20 , a 2007 graduate of Pima Partnership High School, is an intelligence analyst with the 158th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion.

"I'm doing my best to be strong," said Margaret Sanchez. "But I'm going to miss her so much."

After a brief training stint at Fort Hood in Texas, the soldiers of the 158th will help provide food, fuel, water, ammunition, and other necessities to U.S. and allied troops in the war zone.

About half the deploying troops are from the Tucson area; the rest are from elsewhere in the state.

They were due to leave early this morning, so the formal farewell event took place the day before. Organizers purposely chose Reid Park for the event, believing the outdoor venue would help keep things upbeat.

"We were hoping it would be a joyous occasion and not a somber one," said Capt. Timothy Wall of Sahuarita, a Raytheon engineer and a company commander with the 158th.

"When you think of goodbye, you think of not seeing that person again, and we didn't want that. We wanted people to celebrate being here with us."

Wall, 31, is leaving behind a year-old daughter, Gwyneth, and wife Alyssa Wall, also 31.

He's aware that his unit is leaving for Afghanistan at a time when some polls show public support declining for that conflict.

No matter, Wall said. His soldiers will still serve proudly and do their best.

"A lot of people don't understand that soldiers don't get to choose where they go. I don't think anyone here would choose to leave their families for a year," Wall said.

"Even if everyone isn't supporting us, it's enough that some people are. It lifts morale tremendously."